By Jean S. HornerThe other day while walking down a corridor
in a public building, I saw what appeared to be someone walking toward
me. On coming closer, I found it was my own reflection in a huge mirror.
For a moment it frightened me. Somehow a full-length reflection of
one’s self is a startling thing. ...

Daily Boost

Sept. 20, 2010 - Stop Picking That Scab

By Doug Clay

Recently I was speaking at a ministers retreat and felt prompted by the Lord to talk about letting God heal hidden hurts. I was amazed at how many ministers and their spouses were dealing with the pain of hidden hurts.

I used Psalm 147:3 as a Scripture reference. I love this verse. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (NIV).

God “binds up their wounds!” In other words, He bandages them up to help keep you from pulling off the scab.

Part of letting the Lord “bandage up your wounds” is coming to the place where you can forgive and release those who have hurt you. Seriously, you will never experience true healing if you are harboring resentment. Here are some sound bytes that I shared with the ministers.

1. Your toughest decision will be, do you want to get better or do you want to get even. You can’t do both! “Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:17-19, NLT).

2. Getting even doesn’t take your hurt away. “He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly” (1 Peter 2:23).

3. Forgiveness isn’t so much for the benefit of the person who hurt you as much as it is for you! The person who hurt you probably doesn’t deserve to be forgiven, but it’s for your sake … and others! “Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many” (Hebrews 12:15).

Everybody gets hurt. Some people are good at covering it up; others are good at wearing it ... but God is really good at bandaging it!